Abstract

A multidisciplinary team at a university speech and hearing clinic had a rare opportunity to closely follow and evaluate identical deaf male triplets from age 2 years 6 months to the present. Test results have shown that the boys demonstrate nearly identical auditory, speech-articulation, language, developmental, and intellectual abilities, yet distinctly different personality characteristics. It is hypothesized that, over the next few years, the triplet described as being the most communicative, interactive, and visually attentive will demonstrate an emerging superiority to his brothers in communication skills. At present he appears to be acquiring vocabulary skills more rapidly than either brother. The general attitude taken in this extended case study is that communication and psychological development have an interactive effect.

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